In our lifetime, we discover different things that have the ability to leave us in awe for a moment. These occasions are few and far between because as we grow older, we become accustom to the world around us. The artist that we're discussing today has spent a large portion of his life to get to this unique moment. A moment that has personally left us in wonder, amazement, confusion and a deep feeling of inspiration.
When we think of artwork, we often think of paintings, sculptures and a set of unwritten rules that are frequently followed by artists. If we're lucky enough, we get graced by the presence of someone who steps outside of the rule book and ventures into a rarely charted territory. This creative voyager, hailing from South Side, Chicago goes by the name of Roger J. Carter.
"When I was a kid back in the 80's, I was immediately drawn to graffiti and street art. At that time it wasn't very popular to see it but I loved the fact that it was an open form of self expression. From then on I fell in love with art."
THE FOUNDATION
From a young age, Roger found himself in the classroom drawing his friends while getting through his formal education. At school, he would often feel there was much more to life than what was being taught. Art became his escape from a world where little inspiration was felt. While this escape felt like love at first sight, his passion didn't become ignited until he reached adulthood. While in high school, art took a backseat as Roger climbed the ranks on his basketball team in hopes of becoming a professional athlete. When things didn't pan out after college, his creative outlet was there to welcome him back with open arms.
"I remember when I got back into it. I said to myself, I'm going all the way with this. I'm going to do what I want, how I want. The approach was unapologetic and I think that's the way art should be. Instead of doing what you think is cool, it should come from your soul."
AN EXPERIMENT GONE RIGHT
So how does an artist go from painting on a canvas to creating intricate portraits made out of toy soldiers? The Answer - Experimentation. After spending countless hours testing out different ideas, Roger gradually discovered a style that spoke to his personal taste and inspired everyone around him. The first prototypes featured vintage records cut into angles to create a face. Later he glued chess pieces together on wood to form an image. Then a handful of plastic soldiers, painted black, outlining a portrait of a woman. As the Chicago native dove deeper into different ideas, the toy soldier imagery evolved into vivid portraits of musicians, activists and writers. The soldiers, previously looked at as nothing more than a toy, took on a new meaning, as part of a greater expression.
"For me I've always been political in my art. I've always done revolutionary characters and rebels. So in that regard, I consider my art as a form of protest. My Art Is My Protest."
Throughout the summer of 2020, between a pandemic and racial injustice, Roger found himself motivated to continue making art within his new found style. It became his own way of addressing everything that was going on in the world. He funneled the tension in the air and put all of his emotions into his art.Fela Kuti by Roger J. Cater - Artist Replete
NOW IS THE TIME
While this particular style of work is new to the artist, his life as a creative spans far beyond a decade. His exploration as a creative has been relentless and while his friends have gone on to become successful, he never once questioned himself or wondered when his time would come. It's evident at this point that his time is now. During the course of our interview we witnessed him working on multiple commissions that were going to different locations throughout the U.S, Europe and Canada. The word has gradually gotten out of an artist who's evolving his craft and finding unique ways to create an image.
As a society we often get excited over the release of a new idea. This can be in the form of a new phone, a new item in the fashion industry or in this case a medium rarely witnessed in the art world. We see nothing but a bright future and a rising market ahead of this individual.
More info: artistreplete.com
Roger J Carter (image provided by Artist Replete)
